Pakistan ring changes in dead rubber

Pakistan and Zimbabwe head for the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, for the
fourth ODI of the Mobilink Cup, the hosts having already won the series with
three not-entirely-convincing wins. With four wickets and 130 runs (at an
astonishing strike-rate of 158) in the series, Shahid Afridi has had a say
in proceedings at all three venues and Zimbabwe won't be looking forward to
Faisalabad: Pakistan's last match here, against South Africa, was won by
Afridi with 3 for 37 and an 18-ball 32.

With nothing left to play for, more debuts are on the cards for Pakistan. Khalid Latif, captain of the
World Cup-winning Under-19 team in 2004, looks set to open the innings with Nasir Jamshed. He has scored nearly 600 runs at an average of 42 in the domestic season to date, and can be expected to add further dash to the start to the innings.

Sohail Khan, the Karachi-based right-arm fast bowler, also looks certain to make his first appearance to spice up an unimpressive pace attack that has failed to dismiss Zimbabwe at all this series. Sohail, with 68 wickets in ten first-class matches during his debut season, intimidated Zimbabwe with his pace during a tour match in Karachi but a shoulder niggle has kept
him out of the series thus far.

The board's policy of introducing new faces during the series was welcomed by the captain, Shoaib Malik, who said healthy competition for places and gauging back-up strength were crucial ahead of a busy season. He, however, shrugged aside concerns about the bowling arguing that batting-friendly tracks have made the work of the new bowlers harder.

Even though the series is already wrapped up, Malik said that Zimbabwe will
not be let off easily as Pakistan aim for a clean sweep. "The introduction
of new players does have an effect on the team and results may not come out
convincing," he said. "But I'm quite satisfied with their performance so far and we
will give our best in the next ODIs, aiming to win them both obviously as we
prepare for the Australian series."

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, want to instill the "killer instinct" that, according
to their coach Robin Brown, has been lacking on the tour so far. They failed
to restrict Pakistan after reducing them to 78 for 5 in Multan and then, with 145 required off
the last 20 overs with seven wickets in hand, Zimbabwe went on to lose the
must-win game by 37 runs. They will again be without their captain, Prosper
Utseya, due to an ankle injury that is likely to keep him out of the remainder of the series, but Brown, as always, remains optimistic of his young, and experienced, side.

"It is disappointing to lose Utseya not only as a captain but also as one of
our specialist bowlers," Brown said. "However, the team needs to move on and
win the match with what we have. We will be discussing the team combination
and strategy tonight and might change things round since the series is
already lost."

As their seam attack has mostly struggled, Timycen Maruma, the right-arm
legspinner, may feature for the first time this series as Zimbabwe look to
adopt a different approach with the ball. Christopher Mpofu, the right-arm
fast bowler, may also be recalled to aid the medium-pace of Tawanda Mupariwa
who captured a career-best four-wicket haul in Multan.

Morale, however, might be understandably low, especially after their failure to reinforce
good positions. Apart from the stumble in Multan, Zimbabwe had Pakistan in
trouble at 178 for 5 - chasing 233 - in Hyderabad but dropped catches and
let the match slip. Brown, though, remains hopeful that the team will learn
from those missed opportunities and take something from the series.

"We are still confident and there is no problem with the morale in the
dressing room," he said. "We know we have lost three matches on the trot but we have
not been dismissed yet and that is taking positives from the loss. The side
is desperate to win and we shall put on our best performance in the
remainder of the tour.

"We have played well throughout the series but have failed to bring out our
best in all three departments of the game," Brown added. "When we bowled
well, we batted poorly and after batting well, we dropped catches and ended
up losing."

The pitch again looks batsman-friendly, meaning that Zimbabwe's plan will be
much the same again: win the toss, bat first and score big against another
new-look Pakistan attack. Dew will play a part in the second innings, so any
chase will have to be 280-plus, even against a batting line as nervy and
untested as Pakistan's.